September 30, 2024
Say So!
Psalm 107
Nicolas Ochoa
Big Book Idea
Thinking and feeling God's way.
Key Verse | Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble.
Psalm 107
Book Five
Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So
1
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
1
107:2
Or from the hand of the foe
3
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5
hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7
He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
10
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17
Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18
they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
23
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24
they saw the deeds of the LORD,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25
For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
2
107:27
Hebrew and all their wisdom was swallowed up
28
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30
Then they were glad that the waters
3
107:30
Hebrew they
were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32
Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33
He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34
a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35
He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36
And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37
they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38
By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.
39
When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40
he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41
but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42
The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: Steadfast love
What is God’s steadfast love to his people, for which Psalm 107 repeatedly says they should thank him? It is the enduring faithfulness, care, and kindness that he has promised to them. Even after their repeated disobedience, which brought his discipline, they cried out to him and he forgave them.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 107:1–3 The opening section states the purpose of the psalm (the call to give thanks to the LORD) and the theme (his steadfast love endures forever). The specific occasion is that God has redeemed his people and gathered them in from the lands (that is, from exile; see 106:47).
Ps. 107:4–9 This is the first group of those who were banished from the land as a result of the exile. Some of the exiles wandered in desert wastes, such as the Sinai Desert (see 106:14; Deut. 32:10). finding no way to a city to dwell in. Their proper home was the Promised Land, but God had sent them away. When they cried to the LORD, God delivered them, bringing them to a city to dwell in.
Ps. 107:10–16 The next group of exiles sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. These people suffered as captives (prisoners) and forced laborers (hard labor, v. 12) because they had rebelled against the words of God. But even though they rejected God’s covenant by their rebellion, God still heard and rescued them (v. 14; see v. 10).
Ps. 107:17–22 Some of the exiles were fools through their sinful ways. Their own folly, which resulted from their turning away from God, brought on their affliction. Nevertheless God heard and relieved them when they cried to the LORD in their trouble. Healed them is not merely physical but includes their return to the Promised Land.
Ps. 107:23–32 The fourth group consisted of sailors caught in a storm. If these were exiles, they were sailing in the service of a foreign king. As the storm increased in its fury, they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and God made the storm be still. These people have returned to the Promised Land, where they can extol God in the congregation.
Ps. 107:33–42 God displayed his righteousness by restoring Judah after the exile.
Psalm Ps. 107. With this psalm the members of the community call one another to give thanks for God’s enduring “steadfast love.” He has shown this to the people as a whole but also to individual members. The distinctive feature of this psalm is its four accounts of people in distress (“some,” vv. 4, 10, 17, 23), whom God rescued. Because the psalm concerns gratitude for Judah’s return from exile (v. 3), it is likely that these four accounts describe the activities of the Judahites in their exile. After the initial invitation to “give thanks to the LORD” (v. 1), the psalm describes how each of the four groups cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them. The psalm calls on them to thank the Lord.
Ps. 107:43 The final verse invites whoever is wise (that is, those who desire to live in a godly way) to attend to these things. They are to pay attention to the many ways in which God has displayed his steadfast love. Knowing God’s love will increase one’s wisdom.
Fact: Steadfast love
What is God’s steadfast love to his people, for which Psalm 107 repeatedly says they should thank him? It is the enduring faithfulness, care, and kindness that he has promised to them. Even after their repeated disobedience, which brought his discipline, they cried out to him and he forgave them.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 107
Psalm 107 paints the picture of four groups caught in the darkest of circumstances and how God rescues them from the doorstep of death: wanderers, captives, those suffering, and the storm-tossed. No matter the depth of trial, God is able and available to help those crushed by physical and spiritual distress.
Perhaps this is your story or a season you can identify with. With the size of The Journey audience, I know there are countless trials, sufferings, and uncontrollable circumstances we're all walking through. I've heard it said that you're either preparing for a storm, going through a storm, or coming out of a storm.
In the thick of our two-year foster care journey, there were days when uncertainty ruled our minds. As we put our son down at night, we couldn't help wondering if he'd still be in our care tomorrow. One of the mantras we recited in this season was, "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) This truth reminds our fickle hearts that we are not promised tomorrow and today is all we have.
Like the Israelites crying out, "Lord, help!," this was all we could do as we drew near to God with open hands. Whether our son stays with us or not, I'm called to steward today the best I can.
"Lord, help!" is a simple but profound prayer that is prompted by God's past faithfulness, which gave us future hope. It reminded us that He is our anchor to endure the trials of life and our pilot to navigate uncharted waters. Though the storm may rage on, God is able to calm our hearts in the storm.
For those who trust in Jesus, there's an assurance to the promises of God. Jesus provided the ultimate redemption for us. He's met the need of salvation and delivered us from sin, Satan, judgment, and death.
I pray these promises over you whatever season the Lord has you in. Continue to cry out to Him, consider the steadfast love of the Lord, recall His past faithfulness, and speak of His redemption with your lips and lives.
This month's memory verse
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
– Galatians 5:25
Discussion Questions
1. Which of the four groups do you identify with most? Is there a sin you need to avoid, confess, or forsake?
2. What has the Lord redeemed you from in the past? Jot down a few reasons to express gratitude to Him today.
3. What are some moments or events in which you have seen God's faithfulness in the past? Jot down a few reasons to be reminded of and bolster confidence today.
4. Take a few moments to cry out to Lord both for yourself and on behalf of others who need the Lord's rescuing grace.
For further reflection on cultivating a grateful heart in all circumstances, I would recommend The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks by Dustin Crowe.
As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!